Locking hood assembly for flow control device

ABSTRACT

Locking hood assembly for mounting on a gas service head valve of the lubricated plug type to prevent unauthorized opening of the valve. Locking hood assembly comprises a generally cylindrical main body or hood which covers the valve stem and stop collar when it is mounted on the valve thus preventing valve operation, the hood being attached to the valve using the removable buttonhead grease fitting which is conventionally an element of the valve itself. Assembly further comprises a cover cap which conceals the grease fitting after the hood is mounted on the valve; and a barrel lock which locks the cover cap to the main body or hood. The main body further has an enlarged, generally oval-shaped, peripherally extending skirt portion which fits over the oval-shaped gland seal cover plate of the valve when the hood is in place and prevents access to the gland seal cover bolts and to the normal spacing between the gland seal cover and the valve housing.

This invention relates to locking devices for preventing unauthorizedoperation of flow control devices, such as valves and switches, and moreparticularly to such locking devices as are mounted on the controldevice to engage the operating element thereof to prevent its movement.

Public utility companies supply electric energy, fuel, and water totheir customers by way of service head valves and circuit breakers orswitches located on or near the premises of each customer. Although theinvention in its broader aspects may have other uses, for example as ameans for locking electric power supply relays or switches, water supplyshutoff valves, or other manually or automatically operated valves whichcontrol the supply or rate of flow of liquid or gaseous chemicals or thelike, it was made while attempting to devise a relatively foolprooflockable hood for manufacture in substantial quantities to be installedon literally thousands of existing gas service head valves in homes,apartment houses, factories and other buildings when the heating gassupply service thereto is to be shut off, to prevent unauthorizedopening of the valve and consequent unauthorized recommencement of theservice. The invention will therefore be described in connection withsuch use.

Locks such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,002,368 and 3,714,802have been devised for the purpose of preventing unauthorized operationof such valves or switches. However, they have not been entirelysuccessful in view of the propensity of some persons to tamper with suchlocks in an attempt to remove them by bending or cutting parts of thelock or of the valve or switch structure on which the lock is mounted.Such persons may use special tools which they have devised for thepurpose, or for the purpose of by-passing the lock and effectingoperation of the valve or switch in spite of the presence of the lock. Afurther disadvantage of many previously known locking devices is thatthey require modification of the valve or switch itself either to permitinstallation of the lock, or to render it useful. Such requiredmodifications in many thousands of gas service head valves at the timeswhen such valve locks are to be installed would, of course,substantially increase the cost of installation. For example, in a citylike New York City where the population numbers several million persons,merely the normal movement of persons to new homes and apartmentsrequires interruption of gas service to literally hundreds of thousandsof homes or apartments each year. Even a few minutes spent modifyingeach such existing gas service head valve to receive such a lockingdevice would require thousands of man-hours of servicemen's time, withresulting increased costs.

Accordingly, it is intended by the present invention to provide aremovable hood or shield which may be locked on to a control device suchas a gas service head valve, to prevent its operation, in a manner whichdoes not require any physical modification or marring of the controldevice or valve itself. Nor should the attachment of the hood or shieldrequire the uses of special fasteners, screws or the like as wouldcreate difficulty or require adjustment or undue consumption of timeduring installation. Ideally, the gas service locking device would becarried by the gas serviceman and simply placed and locked on theservice head valve in a very few minutes, to be removed as easily at alater time when the gas service is to be restored.

It is further intended that, excepting for size differences, the samelocking hood device will be usable with either of the two common typesof lubricated plug valves now commonly used as gas service head valvesin public utility systems, these being of the types manufactured andsold by Walworth Company of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, and by RockwellInternational, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Although of slightlydifferent configuration, both of these lubricated plug valves areoperated by a manually pivotable valve stem which projects outwardlyfrom the valve housing. Both types further have a button-head type ofgrease fitting for lubricating the valve, the grease fitting beingremovably mounted on the projecting end of the valve stem.

Generally describing the invention, it utilizes a removable andreplaceable part of the utility service control device itself to securethe main body of the locking hood to the control device, the lockinghood assembly further including a cover cap to conceal or prevent accessto such removable part of the valve after the locking hood main body hasbeen thereby secured, and a relatively tamperproof lock for locking thecover cap in place. In its preferred embodiment for use with both of theaforementioned Walworth and Rockwell types of lubricated plug valves,the main body of the locking hood assembly has generally cylindricalshape to fit over the projecting valve stem by which the valve isoperated, the locking hood main body being secured to the valve stemusing the removable grease fitting which is normally a part of the valveand is mounted on the end of the valve stem. For this purpose, thelocking hood main body includes a top closure portion spanning acrossits cylindrical shape adjacent to the top end thereof, the top closureportion being apertured appropriately to permit the threaded attachmentstem of the grease fitting to pass therethrough as the grease fitting isagain mounted on the end of the valve stem to secure the main body ofthe hood to the valve. The wider buttonhead portion of the greasefitting engages the top closure portion to retain the hood in place onthe valve. The referred to cover cap of the locking hood assembly isplaced on a cap-receiving portion of the main body of the hood to coverthe buttonhead grease fitting when the latter is in place. A barrellock, which may be of a known type, locks the cover in place on thecap-receiving portion of the hood.

In addition, the opposite or lower end of the main body of the lockinghood assembly has a generally oval-shaped depending skirt portion whichsurrounds and extends below the correspondingly oval-shaped,conventional gland seal cover plate of these lubricated plug valves, theoval-shaped skirt preventing pivotal movement of the locking hood in itsmounted position on the valve, and also preventing access to the valvestop collar by which the valve might be operated, and to the gland coverbolts which are normally exposed between the gland cover plate and thevalve housing.

The locking hood assembly is installed after the main gas service headvalve has been manually closed by pivoting its projecting valve stem tothe valve-closed position. As previously noted, the grease fitting onthe valve stem is used to secure the main body of the locking hoodassembly in place. That is, the buttonhead grease fitting has ahexagonal-shaped head portion by which it is unscrewed from the exposedend of the valve stem and, when the grease fitting has been removed, thegenerally cylindrical main body of the locking hood assembly is placedover the valve stem, its oval-shaped depending skirt fitting over andsurrounding the gland seal cover plate of the valve as also previouslymentioned. The buttonhead grease fitting is then replaced, its threadedattachment stem being passed through the apertured top closure portionof the locking hood main body and into engagement with the existingthreaded aperture on the end of the valve stem. When it is tightened,the enlarged head portion of the grease fitting retains the top closureportion and, hence, the locking hood main body on the valve. The valvestem is then concealed within the cylindrical main body of the lockinghood assembly, and is inaccessible for turning with a wrench to open thevalve.

The cover cap is placed on the cap-receiving portion of the main body toconceal the buttonhead grease fitting, and is locked in place using apencil-shaped barrel lock which passes through laterally alignedapertures formed in the main body cap-receiving portion and in the covercap. The barrel lock, which is generally described in the aforementionedU.S. Pat. No. 3,714,802, can only be opened using a special-shaped key.

Because of the oval-shape configuration of the skirt of the locking hoodmain body and its surrounding relation to the gland cover plate and to aportion of the valve housing therebelow, the locking hood main bodycannot be pivoted on the valve, as might be a means of effecting removalof the grease fitting and thus the hood itself even though direct accessto the fitting is not achieved. Further, the fingergrip portion of thecover cap has conical shape so that it is not easily gripped by a heavywrench or other tool as might be used for force-shearing of the parts.Moreover, the main body, cap and lock are each made of hardened steel sothat none of the parts can be easily cut or deformed. Thus, unauthorizedaccess to the main gas service head valve is virtually assured.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become more fullyapparent from the following detailed description of the invention. Thedescription makes reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a locking hood assembly inaccordance with the invention as it appears when locked in place on alubricated plug-type gas service head valve;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are, respectively, a plan view and a side-sectionalelevation of the lubricated plug valve and locking hood assembly shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevational view, partly in cross-section,illustrating the arrangement of the locking hood assembly of FIGS. 1-3and its manner of placement on the gas service head valve; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional viewsillustrating the manner of locking and unlocking the locking hoodassembly on the valve.

Referring to the drawings, a locking head assembly in accordance withthe invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10, and isshown in FIGS. 1-3 as it would appear when locked in its position on aconventional type lubricated plug valve, generally indicated byreference numeral 11, which will be understood to be the main gasservice head valve in a gas utility supply pipeline 12 leading into ahome or similar place.

Public utility service Codes of various government agencies require thatthe main gas service head valve in a gas supply line must be of suchlubricated plug type. Such lubricated plug valves are well-known and, aspreviously noted, may be of a type manufactured and sold by eitherWalworth Co. of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania or by Rockwell International,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The valve has as its primary seal a system ofgrease-containing channels for preventing any leakage flow of gas. Thisgrease or lubricant is replenished by injecting it into the valve via abuttonhead grease fitting which is mounted on the exposed end of theoperating stem of the valve. In the drawings, this buttonhead greasefitting is generally indicated by reference numeral 13, and theoperating stem of the lubricated plug valve is indicated by referencenumeral 14. As indicated by the showing 13c in FIG. 4, the greasefitting attachment stem 13b is threaded at its lower end and is receivedin a correspondingly threaded aperture 14a formed in the end of thevalve stem. The grease fitting 13 further includes an enlarged headportion 13a which is hexagonal in shape for tightening the greasefitting in place using a wrench or similar tool. The buttonhead portion13d on the upper end of the grease fitting 13 has conventional shape forconnection of a grease gun when the valve lubricant is to bereplenished.

Completing the description of the lubricated plug valve 11 insofar aspertinent to a description of the present invention, the valve body orhousing is generally indicated by reference numeral 16, the gas supplyline 12 being threadedly attached at both ends 16a, 16b as shown. Aconventional gland seal cover plate 17 which as seen in FIG. 2 hasgenerally oval-shape, is attached to the valve housing 16 by a pair ofgland cover bolts 18, 19 which pass through the cover and are threadedinto the valve housing, as seen in FIG. 3. As will also be noted fromFIGS. 3 and 4, the gland seal cover plate 17 is usually spaced a slightdistance away from the top of the valve housing, the spacing beinggenerlly indicated by reference numeral 20, thus leaving the shanks ofthe respective gland cover bolts 18, 19 exposed as they span across thespacing 20. If the spacing 20 is left uncovered, it is apparent that theexposed gland cover bolts 18, 19 might be cut using a hacksaw, and thevalve stem 14 could be turned, and thus the valve could be opened, by"reverse" engagement of the integrally formed gland cover stop 21 on theplate with the radially outward projecting stop 22 formed on the valvestop collar 23 which, in turn, is attached to the valve stem 14.Accordingly, it is believed that the locking hood assembly of theinvention must incorporate means to prevent access to the gland coverplate spacing 20 so as to prevent access to the shanks, as well as tothe boltheads of the gland cover bolts 18, 19.

Referring now to the details of the locking hood assembly of theinvention, as perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 4 the locking hoodassembly 10 includes a main body 25, a cover cap 26 and a lock 27. Aswill be noted from FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 25 may be said to havegenerally cylindrical interior shape for fitting over and thusconcealing the outwardly projecting valve stem 14. Adjacent to its upperend an integrally formed top closure portion 28 spans across andsubstantially closes the cylindrical main body 25, there being only acentral aperture 28a therein through which the grease fitting attachmentstem 13b is passed when resecuring the grease fitting 13 to the valvestem 14 to hold the main body 25 on the valve. It will be noted that theaperture 28a is formed having an upwardly facing bevel for receiving thecorrespondingly shaped, downwardly facing bevelled portion at theunderside of the grease fitting head portion 13a.

At its opposite, lower end the main body 25 has a integrally formeddepending skirt portion 29 which, as seen in FIG. 2, has generallyoval-shape to fairly closely surround the similarly shaped gland sealcover plate 17. A surface portion 30 of the main body 25 connects theoval-shaped skirt 29 to the central cylindrical portion of the mainbody, as shown.

Referring to FIG. 3, and depending upon the height of its skirt 29 andthe length of the grease fitting attachment stem 13b, the main body 25of the locking hood assembly may fit somewhat loosely on the valve 11,or may be clamped somewhat tightly thereto by pressure exerted by thebevelled underside of the grease fitting head portion 13a pressingagainst the bevelled top closure aperture 28a assuming that the heightof the skirt 29 is such that it will abut against the valve housing ends16a, 16b. Alternatively, and although not illustrated, it will beunderstood that the height of the grease fitting attachment stem 13b andthat of the locking hood assembly main body 25 may be shortened so thatthe bevelled underside of the grease fitting head portion 13a will pressthe top closure portion 28 directly against the top, exposed end 14b ofthe valve stem 14.

In any event, it will be understood that the main body 25 of the lockinghood assembly cannot be pivoted on the valve 11, and that it shields thegland cover bolts 18, 19 and the valve stop collar 23, as well as thevalve stem 14, from access.

So that the grease fitting 13 cannot be removed, the locking hoodassembly cover cap 26 is placed on an upwardly projecting cap-receivingportion 38 of the main body 25, as perhaps best understood from FIG. 4.The cap-receiving portion 38 is formed integrally with the main body 25,and provides a cylindrically shaped interior opening 38a. As will beunderstood from FIG. 3, the height of the cap-receiving portion 38 isconsiderably greater than the vertical height of the buttonhead greasefitting which is also received therein. For reasons as will beexplained, the inside diameter of the cap-receiving portion 38 isconsiderably larger than the lateral width dimension of the greasefitting head portion 13a. The cover cap 26 has a correspondingly sizedcylindrical body portion 31, i.e., its outer diameter is only slightysmaller than the inside diameter of the cylindrical cap-receivingportion 38 to be slidably received in the latter, and a knurledfingergrip portion 32. Thus, because of the comating cylindricalsurfaces, the cover cap 26 is pivotable when it is seated within thecap-receiving portion 38.

The cover cap cylindrical body portion 31 has an axially extendingcentral aperture 33, the lower end of which is hexagonally-shaped to fitover and engage the hexagonal-shaped head portion 13a of the greasefitting 13, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the cover cap 26 can be used as atool to tighten and loosen the grease fitting 13 in its threadedengagement with the valve stem 14, simply by grasping the knurled gripportion 32 using the hand and turning the cover cap. It is for thisreason that the interior diameter 38a of the cap-receiving portion 38must be considerably greater than the lateral width dimension of thegrease fitting head portion 13a, i.e., to receive the cover capcylindrical body portion in which the hexagonal aperture is formed. Ofcourse, the height of the cover cap central aperture 33 must be adequateto receive the upper buttonhead portion 13d of the grease fitting 13, asalso seen in FIG. 3.

To prevent removal of the cover cap 26 it must be locked in place on themain body 25 of the locking hood assembly. For this purpose a barrellock 27 is received within appropriately sized apertures which form athroughhole in the cap-receiving portion 38 and the cover cap bodyportion 31, these apertures being respectively indicated by referencenumerals 34a, 34b and 35. It will be noted that the diameter of theaperture 34a is enlarged to receive the enlarged head 27a of the barrellock 27. As seen in FIG. 3 the lock shank 27b is passed laterallythrough the aperture 34a and the cover cap aperture 35, and into thepartial aperture 34b at the opposite side of the cap receiving portion38. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 which show details of the manner in whichthe barrel lock 27 is locked in place, the lock 27 has peripherallydisposed balls 36 which are forced in radially outward direction of thelock shank 27b by an axial plunger 37 as it is moved inwardly, from theposition shown in FIG. 6 to that shown in FIG. 5, by a specially adaptedlock key (not shown). The balls 36 are received in an enlarged diameterend portion 35a of the cover cap aperture 35, as seen in FIG. 5, thuspreventing the lock 27 from being removed from the apertures 34a, 34band 35. The bitter end 27c of the barrel lock 27 is received in thepartial aperture 34b, as seen in either of FIGS. 5 and 6.

When by using the special key the plunger 37 is withdrawn to itsposition as shown in FIG. 6, i.e., moved to the right from its positionas shown in FIG. 5, the peripherally disposed balls 36 move intoappropriate circumferentially disposed recesses 36a in the lock shank27b, permitting the lock 27 to be withdrawn from the apertures 34a, 34band 35.

As seen in FIG. 1, a wire and lead seal 38 is passed through a slot 27din the head end 27a of the barrel lock, the wire covering the keyholeopening and indicating unauthorized tampering if the seal has beenremoved.

The locking head assembly 10 is installed on the valve 11 in the mannerindicated in FIG. 4. That is, first the grease fitting 13 is unscrewedfrom its threaded engagement with the valve stem 14, and then the mainbody 25 of the locking head assembly is placed over the valve stem 14and on to the valve 11, so that its cylindrical-shaped interior 25a isdisposed around the pivotable valve stem 14, and its depending skirt 29surrounds the fixed gland seal cover plate 17 and the similarly shapedupper end of the valve housing 16 which is immediately therebelow, asseen in FIG. 3. The grease fitting attachment stem 13b is then passedthrough the top closure aperture 28a of the locking hood and is againthreadedly connected to the valve stem 14. The threading of the greasefitting on to the valve stem 14 is conveniently effected using the covercap 26 as a tightening tool, its hexagonal aperture 33 being placed inengagement with the grease fitting head portion 13a as would a wrench.

After the grease fitting 13 has been tightened the pivoted position ofthe cover cap 26 is adjusted so that its lateral aperture 35 is inalignement with the apertures 34a, 34b on the main body of the lockinghood assembly (this possibly requiring some adjustment of the positionof the grease fitting 13), and the barrel lock 27 is inserted into thealigned apertures 34a, 34b and 35 and locked in place. The wire and leadseal 38 is then formed, by passing its wire through the lock aperture27d and forming the lead seal using a conventional sealing tool.

The knurled finger grip portion 32 of the cover cap has forty-fivedegree frusto-conical shape so that it cannot be easily gripped by anytool normally found in the household, as might be used to force the capin an attempt to shear off the barrel lock 27. All of the parts are ofhardened steel so that they are not easily cut or deformed, and the lock27 can be opened using only a special key. Thus, when the assembly 10 ismounted and locked on the valve, it is virtually tamper-proof.

To remove the locking hood assembly 10 from the gas service head valve11, the procedure is reversed. That is, the seal 38 is broken, and thebarrel lock 27 is unlocked and removed. Grasping its knurled gripportion 32, the cover cap 26 is twisted in counterclockwise direction tounscrew the grease fitting 13 from its threaded engagement with thevalve stem 14. After removing the grease fitting, the main body 25 islifted off the valve 11. The grease fitting 13 is then again threadedlymounted on the valve stem 14.

Thus, there has been described a locking hood assembly for preventingunauthorized operation of a flow control device on which it is mounted,and which otherwise achieves the objects of the invention. Although apreferred embodiment has been described with reference to a lubricatedplug-type shut-off valve in a gas supply line, it will be understoodthat the locking hood assembly may be modified, or used on the otherflow control devices including other types of fluid control valves oreven electric switches, without departing from the principles of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flow control device having a fixed portion andan operating member which is movable with respect to said fixed portion;a locking hood assembly mounted on said flow control device forpreventing said movement of its said operating member, said locking hoodassembly comprising a main body having an interior configuration fittingon and substantially surrounding said operating member; and releasablemeans retaining said main body in its said fitting relation with respectto said operating member; said locking hood assembly further comprisinga removable cover cap on said main body covering and thereby preventingaccess to said releasable retaining means, and removable lock means forlocking said cover cap in said position on said main body.
 2. Thecombination according to claim 1 wherein said flow control device is afluid flow control valve whose said operating member is a pivotablevalve stem which projects outwardly from said fixed portion of thevalve, and said main body of the locking hood assembly has centrallyapertured configuration and surrounds at least the projecting portion ofsaid valve stem, said centrally apertured configuration of the main bodyincluding an end portion which is disposed closely adjacent to saidfixed portion of the valve.
 3. The combination according to claim 2wherein said fluid flow control valve includes a valve housing, saidfixed portion of the valve is a generally oval-shaped gland seal coverplate attached to said valve housing, said main body of the locking hoodassembly housing substantially cylindrical shape and further having acorrespondingly oval-shaped depending peripheral skirt fitting on andsubstantially surrounding the periphery of said gland seal cover-platewhereby pivotal movement of said main body with respect to said valve isprevented, said main body further comprising a surface portion extendingbetween the outer peripheries of said main body end portion and saidskirt.
 4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said gland sealcover-plate is spaced away from said valve housing and is attached tosaid valve housing by a pair of gland cover bolts which extend acrossthe spacing between said gland sead cover-plate and said housing, andsaid main body skirt has depending height whereby said skirt spansacross said spacing between said gland seal cover-plate and saidhousing, thereby preventing access to said gland cover bolts.
 5. Thecombination according to claim 1 wherein said releasable means comprisesa removable element of said control device itself.
 6. The combinationaccording to claim 2 wherein said fluid flow control valve is alubricated plug valve, and said releasable means retaining said lockinghood main body on said operating member is a removable buttonhead greasefitting mounted on the outwardly projecting end of said valve stem, saidbuttonhead grease fitting including a head portion for receiving agrease gun and a smaller diameter attachment stem depending from saidhead portion, said centrally apertured configuration of said lockinghood main body including a top closure portion covering the outwardlyprojecting end of said valve stem, said top closure portion having meansdefining a central aperture thereof having diameter only slightly largerthan said grease fitting attachment stem but smaller than the widthdimension of said grease fitting head portion, said grease fittingattachment stem passing through said top closure aperture and beingconnected to said end of the valve stem.
 7. The combination according toclaim 5 wherein said head portion of the buttonhead grease fitting has adownwardly facing bevelled peripheral portion, and said means defining acentral aperture of said top closure portion provides an upwardly facingbevelled periphery of said aperture receiving said bevelled periphery ofsaid grease fitting head portion.
 8. The combination according to claim6 wherein said main body configuration further includes a cap-receivingportion projecting upwardly substantially from said top closure portionand having means defining a generally cylindrical central openingthereof which is axially aligned with said central aperture of said mainbody top closure portion, the height of said cap-receiving portion abovesaid main body top closure portion being greater than the height of saidgrease fitting head portion, said cover cap being mounted on saidcap-receiving portion and said lock means locking said cover capthereon.
 9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said outwardlyprojecting end of said valve stem has means defining a threaded aperturefor receiving said grease fitting attachment stem, said grease fittingattachment stem is in threaded engagement with said threaded aperture ofthe valve stem, and said grease fitting head portion ispolygonal-shaped, said cylindrical central opening of the cap-receivingportion having diameter which is substantially larger than the lateralwidth dimension of said grease fitting head portion, said cover cap hasa generally cylindrical body portion whose outer diameter is onlyslightly smaller than said inside diameter of the cap-receiving portionopening and is pivotably received in the latter, said cover capcylindrical body portion having means defining a polygonal-shapedaperture extending inwardly from that end thereof which is received insaid cap-receiving portion opening and engaging said polygonal-shapedgrease fitting head portion, and said cover cap further has a gripportion disposed exteriorly of said main body cap-receiving portionwhereby, when said lock means is removed and said cover cap grip portionis pivoted, said grease fitting can be removed from its said threadedengagement with said valve stem.
 10. The combination according to claim9 wherein said grip portion has substantially conical shape.
 11. Thecombination according to claim 9 wherein said lock means is a barrellock extending in lateral direction through said main body cap-receivingportion and into said cover cap cylindrical body portion at a locationabove said grease fitting head portion, said cap-receiving portion andsaid cover cap cylindrical body portion having means defining alignedand laterally extending apertures for receiving said barrel lock.
 12. Alocking hood assembly for mounting on a flow control device to preventaccess to a movable operating member of the latter, said locking hoodassembly comprising a main body having substantially cylindricalconfiguration for mounting on said operating member and means forreceiving means to retain said main body in its said mounted relation, aremovable cover cap for mounting on said main body to cover and therebyprevent access to said means for receiving said retaining means, andremovable lock means for locking said cover cap in said position on saidmain body.
 13. A locking hood assembly according to claim 12 whereinsaid means for receiving said retaining means comprises a top closureportion of said main body which spans across its cylindrical opening ata location adjacent to one end thereof, said top closure portion havingmeans defining a central aperture thereof having diameter which issubstantially smaller than that of said one end of the cylindrical mainbody.
 14. A locking hood assembly according to claim 13 wherein saidmain body thereof further has an enlarged peripheral skirt dependingfrom the opposite end thereof and a surface portion extending betweenthe outer peripheries of said cylindrical main body end and saidenlarged skirt.
 15. A locking hood assembly according to claim 13wherein said main body further comprises a cylindrical cap receivingportion projecting upwardly substantially from said top closure portionand axially aligned with said cylindrical main body, said cover capbeing engageable with said cap-receiving portion and said lock meansbeing engageable with said cap-receiving portion and said cover cap tolock the same together.
 16. A locking hood assembly according to claim15 wherein said cover cap includes a generally cylindrical body portionwhose outer diameter is only slightly smaller than the inside diameterof said cap-receiving portion for being pivotably received in thelatter, said cover cap cylindrical body portion having means defining apolygonal-shaped aperture extending inwardly from that end thereof whichis received in aid cap-receiving portion.
 17. A locking hood assemblyaccording to claim 16 wherein said cover cap further includes a gripportion which is disposed exteriorly of said main body cap-receivingportion when said cover cap is mounted on said main body, said gripportion having substantially conical shape.
 18. A locking hood assemblyaccording to claim 16 wherein said lock means is a barrel lock, and saidmain body cap-receiving portion and said cover cap have alignableapertures for receiving said barrel lock. .Iadd.
 19. Locking means for agas valve having in combination a body, a rotatable valve membertherein, a valve stem for rotating such member and having an axialgrease duct, a shroud fitting non-rotatably on the body and having asleeve portion enclosing the valve stem, screw means engaging in thegrease duct and fixing the sleeve portion of the shroud on the end ofthe valve stem, driving means for the screw means closing the end of thesleeve portion, and a bolt lock extending transversely of the sleeveportion preventing rotation of the driving means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20.Locking means for a gas valve having a body with a valve seat, arotatable valve-closing member in the body to engage such seat, a shroudfitting non-rotatably on the body to prevent access to such member,screw means to fix the shroud directly on the valve member with capacityfor the shroud's removal to permit rotation of the valve member tocontrol the gas flow, screw actuating means barring access to the screwmeans, and a bolt type lock adapted to bar relative rotation between theshroud and the screw means. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 21. Locking means for a gasvalve having a body, a rotatable valve-closing member therein, a shroudfitting non-rotatably on the body, screw means fixing the shrouddirectly on the valve member, actuating means for the screw means, and akey-operated bolt type lock adapted to bar relative rotation between theshroud and the screw-actuating means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 22. A serviceaccess device in a utility service system, and a locking hood assemblymounted on said device for preventing access thereto, said locking hoodassembly comprising a main body having an interior configuration fittingon and substantially covering said device, releasable means retainingsaid main body in its said fitting relation with respect to said device,removable cover means on said main body covering and thereby preventingaccess to said releasable retaining means, and removable lock means forlocking said cover means in said position on said main body..Iaddend..Iadd.
 23. A locking hood assembly for mounting on a devicewhich is a part of a utility service system to prevent access theretofor tampering with the service, said locking hood assembly comprising amain body for mounting on said device to prevent such access and meansfor receiving means to retain said main body in its said mountedrelation, a removable cover cap for mounting on said main body to coverand thereby prevent access to said means for receiving said retainingmeans, and removable lock means for locking said cover cap in saidposition on said main body. .Iaddend.